A fifth confirmed candidate for the Patriots’ lead front office executive position has emerged. While three of the first four options declined an audience with the team, former Panthers staffer Samir Suleiman will meet about the job.
The Pats are interviewing Suleiman — most recently the Panthers’ VP of football administration — on Wednesday, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. Suleiman was part of this year’s January GM interview cycle, meeting about the Panthers’ position. While this is effectively for a GM role, SI.com’s Albert Breer indicates the Patriots are labeling the position their executive vice president of football operations. This is similar to how the Commanders themed their search this offseason.
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Carolina parted ways with Suleiman after promoting assistant GM Dan Morgan to the GM post. This interview represented Suleiman’s second meeting about a GM position. He also met about the Panthers’ 2021 GM vacancy, but while the team retained the salary cap expert after Scott Fitterer landed the gig three years ago, the sides parted ways once Morgan stepped in as Fitterer’s replacement.
Three execs — Trey Brown, Terrance Gray, Quentin Harris — turned down the Patriots, who are still viewed as likely to give this position to Eliot Wolf, who has been in charge of the team’s roster for several weeks post-Bill Belichick. The two staffers who have not rejected interviews worked together in Pittsburgh. Brandon Hunt, who is currently an Eagles exec, worked alongside Suleiman from 2013-19 with the Steelers. As Hunt served as the team’s director of pro scouting, Suleiman was in place as the AFC North franchise’s football administration coordinator.
Suleiman debuted on NFL staffs in the late 1990s, beginning his run with the Jaguars. He then spent the 2000s with the Rams, operating as the director of football administration for the then-St. Louis-based franchise. The Panthers hired Suleiman in 2020, and he became the team’s primary contract negotiator.
Hunt is continuing his interview today, Schefter adds. Once Suleiman completes his interview, the Patriots would stand to have satisfied their Rooney Rule requirements. Like Hunt, Suleiman is a minority exec. Teams are required to interview at least two external minority candidates to comply with the updated Rooney Rule.
Hey they finally found a taker for the interview. After about 20 tries.
Mandatory hoops have been jumped thru for Wolf to be approved.
I heard he’s magnificent.
How exactly does it help anyone to interview candidates who have no chance of getting the job, but one of their qualifications is the color of their skin, their ethnicity, or their sexual preferences? Must be a real boost to their confidence. “Hey, I’m not in the top 50 candidates, but I am the number one (fill in minority here) and the 142 guy on the top 150 list.” I say this as a 65 year old, disabled Native American man. I want to be an NFL tight end, but because I’m old, in a wheelchair and can’t catch a football it’s not going to happen. Should NFL teams be required to sign me because I want them to? If you’re not good enough, smart enough etc to make it without qualifiers then accept it and go on to something else or do things to get better, smarter etc. Does nothing for my self esteem to know I got the interview because I fit the parameters of the guy they HAVE to interview ( or get fined or penalized) rather than I’m the best guy to ever do this particular job in the history of whatever it is. Sorry for the rant Ladies and Gentlemen, but all this Rooney Rule horse crap has to stop.
Bob Kraft master of the universe is piloting the titanic right into the iceberg. What a tool. He had everyone’s sympathies with his wifes passing but who knows how long the daily trips to the old rub and tug palace have been going on.
No one here knew who Samir Suleiman was until he went on the interview.